How to Come Up with Creative Ideas for What to Sell on eBay

Why Choosing the Right Products Matters

If you’ve ever thought about starting an eBay business, you’ve probably asked yourself the big question: “What should I sell?”

It’s tempting to jump straight into the hottest trends - the latest smartphones, gaming consoles, or designer sneakers. After all, if those items are flying off the shelves, surely they’ll sell well for you too, right?

Not quite.

The reality is that eBay’s most popular categories are also the most saturated. Big, established sellers - often ordering products by the truckload - can afford to undercut everyone else. Competing with them is like opening a small neighborhood café across the street from Starbucks.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to sell what everyone else is selling to succeed on eBay. In fact, the smartest sellers do the opposite. They focus on niches, overlooked opportunities, and creative product ideas backed by research.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to come up with profitable ideas for what to sell on eBay - and how to validate those ideas so you don’t waste time or money.

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Brainstorming: How to Choose Which Products to Sell on eBay

When sellers ask, “What should I sell to make money online?” what they really mean is, “What should I sell that people want to buy - but without drowning in competition?”

A great starting point is to ask yourself what you already know. Are you a fitness enthusiast? Do you love gardening? Have a knack for pet care? Selling products you’re familiar with can make it easier to write compelling listings, connect with customers, and spot winning items.

But passion alone isn’t enough. You also need to make sure there’s real demand and profit potential. Here’s how to brainstorm effectively:

Magazines and Niche Publications

Magazines are like cheat sheets for consumer trends. Consumer Reports can tell you what electronics are hot, while niche hobbyist magazines highlight emerging interests in areas like home brewing, outdoor survival, or crafting. Best of all, these publications are already doing the work of convincing customers they “need” those products - you just need to source them.

Amazon Best Sellers

Amazon’s Best Sellers page updates hourly and shows what’s trending in real time. Look beyond the obvious big-ticket items and search deeper into categories like “Home & Kitchen” or “Pet Supplies.” The key isn’t to copy Amazon, but to find products that are hot there and bring them to eBay where competition might be lower.

Google Gift Lists

Every year, blogs and media outlets release “Top Gifts for Dad,” “Best Christmas Gifts,” or “Top Gifts for Women.” These lists are goldmines for product inspiration - especially seasonal items. Keep in mind that these products tend to spike at certain times, so planning ahead matters.

AliExpress Weekly Bestsellers

AliExpress regularly publishes bestselling lists across categories. These can help you spot fast-moving, low-cost items with dropshipping potential. Just be careful - some products on AliExpress have quality issues, so you’ll want to pair this with a vetting system (more on that soon).

eBay Advanced Search

eBay’s own advanced search is a powerful but underused tool. By checking “Sold Listings,” you can see exactly what’s selling, how often, and at what price. If you notice a niche product with steady sales and limited competition, you may have found your next best-seller.

At this stage, think of brainstorming like fishing: you’re casting a wide net to collect as many product ideas as possible. Next, you’ll learn how to narrow them down with data.

How SaleHoo Market Insights Helps You Spot Winning Products

This is where creativity meets data. Coming up with product ideas is exciting, but excitement alone doesn’t pay the bills. What you really need is proof that a product has the potential to sell profitably before you invest your time or money. That’s exactly what SaleHoo’s Market Insights tool is designed to provide.

Instead of relying on gut instinct or copying whatever seems popular on eBay, this research platform gives you real-time data on over 1.6 million products across multiple categories. Each product is measured against key performance indicators that directly affect your success as a seller. For example, you can check the sell-through rate, which shows what percentage of listings actually convert into sales. A consistently high rate signals genuine buyer demand, not just casual browsing.

You’ll also gain a clear picture of the competition level. It’s not enough to know that an item sells well - you need to understand whether you have a fair shot at standing out. SaleHoo Market Insights helps you spot those sweet-spot opportunities: products with healthy demand but fewer sellers crowding the market. That balance can mean the difference between steady profits and getting buried in a saturated niche.

Another powerful metric is the average retail price. Knowing what buyers are already paying allows you to determine if there’s enough margin between the supplier’s cost and the sale price to make the product worthwhile. Instead of guessing, you can forecast your potential earnings with confidence before you ever list the item.

Finally, you can see whether demand is trending upward or downward. This is crucial for catching opportunities early. Identifying an emerging trend before it peaks allows you to establish yourself as a trusted seller while competitors are still scrambling to catch up.

Taken together, these insights remove the guesswork. You’re not taking blind risks or hoping to stumble across a bestseller. With a data-backed roadmap at your fingertips, brainstorming transforms from a risky gamble into a strategic, evidence-driven process - one that gives you confidence in every product you decide to sell.

Example: Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products

Take insulated cups as an example. Market Insights shows they have broad appeal, thanks to their everyday utility for commutes, work, travel, and home use. At an average selling price of around $23, they sit in the sweet spot for accessibility while leaving room for solid profit margins. Buyers also value their giftability and personalization potential - offering different colors, designs, or multi-unit bundles can encourage repeat orders and increase cart value. Seasonality plays a big role here: demand consistently peaks in December, tied to the holiday gifting rush, with interest growing in the months leading up to Q4. That means if you’re researching in August, now is the time to line up suppliers, secure stock, and list early so your store builds traction before the holiday shopping wave. With SaleHoo Market Insights, you can spot these trends well in advance, ensuring you’re not scrambling when competition spikes but instead positioned with the right inventory, value messaging, and product variants that align with what buyers want.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Find the Best Items to Sell on eBay

Now that you’ve gathered ideas and understand how to validate them with data, let’s turn that knowledge into a repeatable system. The goal is simple: move from “I think this might sell” to “I know this will sell and here’s my plan.” This four-step workflow will help you do exactly that - consistently.

Step 1: Eliminate Risky Products and Categories (and Find Safer Angles)

Certain eBay categories are notorious red oceans for new sellers. Electronics, Computers & Networking, Cameras & Photography, Cell Phones & PDAs, and Video Games are dominated by large, high-volume merchants with deep supplier relationships and razor-thin margins. Competing head-to-head here is like entering a marathon where others start 10 miles ahead. Unless you have substantial capital and negotiated pricing, skip these as primary categories.

But “avoid” doesn’t mean “ignore forever.” It means reframe:

• Trade the hero item for the ecosystem. Instead of the newest phone, sell the accessories ecosystem around it - cases, cables, mounts, lens kits, cleaning kits, organizers, storage, stands, skins. Accessory niches often have healthier margins, lower return risk, fewer authenticity disputes, and faster product refresh cycles you can ride.
• Go micro-niche. “Gaming” is saturated; “cable-management kits for racing sim rigs” is not. Micro-niches are where small sellers win: tighter audiences, clearer search intent, less price combat.
• Target under-served conditions. New may be hyper-competitive, but “open-box,” “remanufactured,” “parts & repair,” or “compatible replacements” can be blue oceans - just ensure compliance and accurate descriptions.
• Make bundles that solve a problem. Combine complementary items into one listing (e.g., “Beginner DSLR Cleaning & Care Bundle”) - bundles reduce direct price comparison and raise perceived value.

As you shortlist ideas, run them through SaleHoo Market Insights to check sell-through, competition, average price, and trend direction. You’re looking for combos like rising demand + low/medium competition + sustainable pricing, which indicate a safer lane for new sellers. From there, jump straight to pre-vetted suppliers so you’re not gambling on quality or legitimacy.

Step 2: Start at Home (Build Proof, Cash Flow, and Confidence Fast)

If you’re brand new to eBay, the best way to learn is to sell what’s already in your orbit. This lets you master the mechanics—photos, titles, item specifics, shipping, returns without risking cash on inventory.

Begin with an at-home audit

Walk room-to-room and list anything in good condition you’re willing to part with: small appliances, books, sports gear, tools, collectibles, board games, fashion accessories. Create a simple spreadsheet with item name, condition, accessories included, and a quick note on comparable sold prices (you’ll pull this in Step 4). Photograph items in batches with consistent lighting and backgrounds for speed.

Branch out locally - smart, safe, and strategic

• Yard/garage sales: Arrive when they open (or message in advance). Bring small bills, a phone for comping “Sold” prices, and a tote to carry finds. Look for categories with steady demand and low return risk: board games (complete), small kitchen tools, specialty sports accessories, brand-name apparel (great condition), and unusual vintage items. Negotiate politely - multi-item offers often get better pricing.
• Thrift stores: Ask staff what day new stock hits the floor and show up at opening. Focus on condition, completeness, and shippability. Lightweight, durable items are ideal for beginner shipping workflows.
• Facebook Marketplace & classifieds: Set up saved searches for target terms (“lot,” “bundle,” “moving sale,” specific brands). Move fast on good deals and bring exact cash. Always meet in public, trust your gut on safety, and inspect items carefully.

This stage is about skill building: perfecting listing flow, testing shipping methods, learning what sells quickly, and understanding your own strengths. The profits fund your next phase; the experience prevents avoidable mistakes later.

Keep paragraphs short, with skimmable subheads - busy readers learn faster and stay engaged (this also supports SEO).

Step 3: Acquire Data (Turn Ideas into Confident, High-Probability Picks)

Once you’ve sold a handful of items and understand the basics, graduate to a data-first sourcing model. This is where most new sellers make the leap from “random flips” to a repeatable, scalable product selection process.

Use SaleHoo Market Insights to qualify ideas quickly

For every product idea on your shortlist, check four signals:

• Sell-through rate: Are listings converting into sales consistently? Higher is better - it signals real buyer intent, not just curiosity.
• Competition level: Fewer strong competitors = easier visibility and more pricing power.
• Average retail price: Compare to your supplier’s landed cost (item + shipping to you/to buyer + eBay/PayPal/processing fees + packaging) to confirm margin.
• Trend direction: Rising demand lets you ride momentum; declining demand may still work if you differentiate (bundles, better photos, unique angles).

SaleHoo tracks 1.6M+ products and connects those insights to 8,000+ pre-vetted suppliers, so you can go from idea → validation → sourcing inside one workflow, avoiding guesswork and supplier scams.

Do the margin math (before you commit)

Run a simple calculation for each candidate product:
Estimated Sale Price – (Product Cost + Shipping to you/to buyer + eBay fees + Packaging) = Projected Profit 

If profit is thin, consider: can you bundle to lift perceived value, switch to a lighter/flat-rate parcel to reduce shipping, or target a different variant (color/size) with less competition?

Source with intention

Once the data checks out, use SaleHoo’s supplier listings to contact vendors directly (email/phone/chat), request sample units, and confirm lead times, MOQ, returns, and shipping options (domestic vs. international). SaleHoo includes templates and supplier contact details to streamline professional outreach, even if you’re just starting out.

Lead with user benefits (“find and validate winning products fast”) and support with features (“sell-through tracking, competition scores, vetted suppliers”). Keep the tone confident, not hypey.

Step 4: Research, Research, Research (Win on the Listing, Not Just the Product)

Even the right product can underperform with the wrong listing. Before you hit “List,” audit the market on eBay’s Completed Listings to understand how to position your item for success.

How to analyze Completed Listings like a pro

1. Search your exact product (include key attributes like brand, model, size) and tick “Sold items” to filter to recently sold results.
2. Scan price bands and note where most successful sales cluster (your pricing “sweet spot”). Watch for condition differences - new and used command different ranges.
3. Open 10–20 sold listings and capture patterns that repeat among winners:
• Title keywords: Which exact phrases appear repeatedly? (Front-load the most searched attributes: brand, model, size/capacity, compatibility.)
• Item specifics:Are sellers filling in granular fields? eBay often boosts visibility for complete, accurate specifics.
• Photos:Count angles, backgrounds, and clarity. White/light backgrounds and close-ups of important details reduce buyer hesitation.
• Format & terms:“Buy It Now” vs. auction, free shipping or not, returns policy, handling time, and whether the listing is promoted (you’ll often see “Sponsored”).
• Timing:Note end times/days for sold auctions - if patterns emerge, emulate when testing auctions.
4. Open 10–20 unsold listings (Completed but not sold). Identify what they did wrong: weak titles, missing specifics, poor photos, unrealistic pricing, long handling times, paid shipping on low-value items. Avoid those pitfalls.

Convert research into your listing plan

• Title: Mirror winning keyword patterns, avoid fluff, and use all available characters.
• Item specifics: Fill every relevant field - this improves filtering and discoverability.
• Photos: Minimum 7–10 high-quality images on neutral backgrounds; include scale, texture, ports, tags/labels, and any flaws (transparency builds trust).
• Price: Position at or just under the dominant sold cluster unless your listing adds value (bundle, bonus accessory, premium condition).
• Shipping: For lighter items, offer free/flat-rate shipping and recoup in price; for heavier items, give a clear, fair calculated rate.
• Returns & handling: A 30-day return window and fast handling (same/next business day) can improve conversion and search placement.

Now combine this eBay intelligence with your SaleHoo Market Insights snapshot. If the eBay comps match your data-based profit target, you’re green-lit to list. If not, iterate: tweak the product angle (variant/bundle), adjust price, or select a different product from your validated shortlist. This keeps you in evidence-driven mode - not hope-driven mode.

Keep explanations clear, practical, and step-based. Readers should be able to apply each paragraph immediately. That’s how we demonstrate real experience and authority.

Quick Next Steps (Put the System on Repeat)

1. Shortlist 5–10 ideas from your brainstorming.
2. Qualify with Market Insights (sell-through, competition, average price, trend).
3. Run the margin math and contact vetted suppliers for samples and terms.
4. Model the winning listing patterns from eBay Completed Listings.
5. Launch, measure, iterate - then scale into adjacent micro-niches.

When you approach eBay this way - creative ideas backed by hard data and tight execution -  you stop guessing and start growing with confidence. And with SaleHoo, you’ve got both the insights and the supplier network in one place to move faster and safer at every step.

10 Important Tips for Selling on eBay

Coming up with product ideas is just the start. To maximize your success, keep these expert tips in mind:

• Be a spy - Study top sellers, but don’t copy. Instead, spot what’s working and adapt it to underserved niches.
• Take advantage of free listing days - eBay occasionally waives fees; use these to test new product ideas risk-free.
• Write keyword-rich titles - Use clear, descriptive titles with the exact terms buyers search for.
• Research before listing - Use SaleHoo + eBay’s Completed Listings to validate every product idea.
• Use quality photos - Professional, clear images can double your conversion rates.
• Go international - eBay makes it easy to sell abroad. Expand your reach, but check shipping costs first.
• Vet your suppliers - Only work with vetted, reliable partners. SaleHoo connects you with over 8,000 verified suppliers.
• Watch seasonal trends - Plan ahead for holidays and peak shopping times.
• Don’t rely on brands - Compete with unbranded or niche items where margins are higher.
• Build for the long term - Focus on niches and customer trust, not just quick wins.

Creativity + Research = Success on eBay

Coming up with ideas for what to sell on eBay doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The best sellers don’t just chase trends - they combine creative brainstorming with data-driven research.

By using resources like magazines, best-seller lists, and eBay’s own search tools, you can generate ideas. By pairing those ideas with SaleHoo Market Insights and vetted suppliers, you can validate demand, avoid scams, and source products with confidence.

Remember: success on eBay isn’t about guessing - it’s about informed decisions. And with the right tools, your next winning product could be just one click away.

Ready to take the guesswork out of eBay selling? Start exploring with SaleHoo Market Insights today and discover your first profitable product.

💬 What about you? Have you tried selling on eBay, or are you still deciding what products to start with? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below - we’d love to hear your ideas and experiences!